diff --git a/packages/frontend-app-api/package.json b/packages/frontend-app-api/package.json
index 772dd62a36..7cd4557ea1 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-app-api/package.json
+++ b/packages/frontend-app-api/package.json
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@backstage/cli": "workspace:^",
+    "@backstage/test-utils": "workspace:^",
     "@testing-library/jest-dom": "^5.10.1"
   },
   "configSchema": "config.d.ts",
diff --git a/packages/frontend-app-api/src/wiring/createApp.test.tsx b/packages/frontend-app-api/src/wiring/createApp.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a2f42257f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/frontend-app-api/src/wiring/createApp.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { createExtension, createPlugin } from '@backstage/frontend-plugin-api';
+import { createInstances } from './createApp';
+
+import { MockConfigApi } from '@backstage/test-utils';
+
+describe('createInstances', () => {
+  it('throws an error when a root extension is overridden', () => {
+    const config = new MockConfigApi({
+      app: {
+        extensions: [
+          {
+            root: {
+              at: '',
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    const plugins = [
+      createPlugin({
+        id: 'plugin',
+        extensions: [],
+      }),
+    ];
+    expect(() => createInstances({ config, plugins })).toThrow(
+      'There is a root extension in the app config file and root extensions are not configurable',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('throws an error when cyclical dependencies are found', () => {
+    const config = new MockConfigApi({});
+    const plugins = [
+      createPlugin({
+        id: 'plugin',
+        extensions: [
+          createExtension({
+            id: 'root',
+            at: 'core.routes/route',
+            inputs: {},
+            output: {},
+            factory() {},
+          }),
+        ],
+      }),
+    ];
+    expect(() => createInstances({ config, plugins })).toThrow(
+      'There is a cyclical dependency with the extension "core.layout": core.layout → core.routes → root → core.layout',
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 0d7896d082..9cb61d15f6 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -4213,6 +4213,7 @@ __metadata:
     "@backstage/core-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/frontend-plugin-api": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/plugin-graphiql": "workspace:^"
+    "@backstage/test-utils": "workspace:^"
     "@backstage/types": "workspace:^"
     "@material-ui/core": ^4.12.4
     "@testing-library/jest-dom": ^5.10.1